Gabriela Angeles
814
5/27/14

MS136

To Kill a Mockingbird In the book To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus who is a lawyer chooses to defend a black man named Tom Robinson that was accused of raping a white woman which is Bob Ewells daughter. In my own opinion its a good thing that Atticus defends Tom because no one ever stands up for the black people just because of the color of their skin. The whites do not think that the blacks should have the same equal rights as they do. Atticus thinks its wrong for them to do that so he tries to help them in anyway he possibly can even if it means giving his family’s name a bad reputation but its worth it to take a stand for what he believes in. Atticus wants his kids to be like him when they grow up, to be respectful to people no matter what the color of their skin is. One reason that Atticus should defend Tom Robinson is because
Atticus believes everyone should be equal. “The way that man called him ‘boy’ all the time and sneered at him” This shows in­equality because Mr.Gilmer was calling Mr.Robinson “boy” and well basically he was trying to say Mr.Robinson was irresponsible.Dill said it made him sick the way Mr.Gilmer was speaking and he said it wasn’t right to treat them that way. As a lawyer, Atticus promises to defend anyone that needs his help.There will be no change in prejudice until everyone receives the same treatment in the court system.All people deserve a fair trial and a fair judgement by their peers.” simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win.” His point is that he takes the case seriously because it requires him to make a moral decision.He has to stand up not just for Tom Robinson, but against the town. He has to make the choice to do what he thinks is right.
The other reason why i believe Atticus should defend Tom
Robinson is because he wants to set a good example for jem and scout.As a father Atticus is affecionate with his children, jem and scout, ready with a hug when they need comfort and availabe to spend time reading to them. Although he allows his children freedom to play and explore, he is also a firm disciplinarian, always teaching his children to think of how their actions affect others and devising punishments to teach his children valuable lessons.For example
Atticus says “you never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view­until you climb into his skin and walk

around in it.” what this quote means is that you have to look at and understand things from the way that other people do.This quote tells us that atticus is a good example for his children because he is trying to intstil good moral values into his children; he is endorsing the value of equality.This lesson of equality is important because Maycomb is a town that is full of social prejudices, specifically social prejudice towards the black community.Not only does Atticus tell his children to treat people equally but he actually acts on his own words,making him a perfect role model.To show that Atticus is knowledgeable and a good example he says “this time we aren’t fighting the yankees, we’re fighting our friends.But remember this, no matter how bitter things get, they’re still our friends and this is our home.”This quote shows us that Atticus does not want his problem to become a problem for scout and jem.
Some people say that Atticus should not have defended Tom
Robinson because it created conflict for his family.It created problems for scout at school.”He had announced in the schoolyard the day before that Scout Finch’s daddy defended niggers.” Cecil Jacobs was teasing scout because her dad was defending Mr.Robinson.Atticus told scout